Experiential travel is taking off again, after people spent the past two years largely confined to their homes. Vietnam’s international borders have fully reopened and travelers are back, seeking out distinctive and transformative experiences.
With this in mind, Azerai recently launched a special menu of more than 40 new and thoughtfully redefined experiences at each of the brand’s three resorts in Vietnam, including Azerai La Residence, Hue in the former imperial capital; Azerai Can Tho in the Mekong Delta; and Azerai Ke Ga Bay, which is located 180km east of Ho Chi Minh City on a white sand beach.
“Nobody knows our backyard better than we do,” said Henry Gray, Executive Director at Azerai Resorts. ”Each of the experiences on this menu is a reflection of what captures the ‘essence of place’ better than any other means imaginable.”
From cycling tours in the lush Mekong Delta to windsurfing on Vietnam’s southeastern coast and historical excursions in the former seat of the Nguyen Dynasty—and much more—Azerai’s new experiences menu features a range of day trips, on-site activities and journeys into the local communities surrounding the resorts.
The experiences range from the cultural to the adventurous to the spiritual. Particularly well represented on the new experiences menu are culinary activities that showcase the breadth of Vietnam’s world-famous cuisine and tap into the country’s local and regional food traditions.
At Azerai La Residence, Hue, longtime popular dining menus such as the “Imperial Dinner” and “Colonial Dinner” are now complemented by a host of new offerings, including the “Aroma of Vietnam Cooking Class,” in which guests learn how to prepare Vietnamese culinary favorites, and “Exploring Hue Cuisine,” a dining experience that spotlights famous central Vietnam dishes.
The resort’s new elegant 55-foot (17-meter) cruise boat also offers a “Private Dinner Cruise” on the Perfume River serving fine Vietnamese and Western cuisine as the boat moves past picturesque natural scenery and historic local landmarks.
At Azerai Can Tho, “Romance Under the Banyan Tree” features a lantern-lit, five-course meal for two. The “Breakfast Cruise to Cai Rang Floating Market” includes a choice of Vietnamese or Western breakfast, followed by a visit to the bustling Mekong Delta floating market, and concludes with an on-shore excursion to a traditional noodle-making factory.
Other culinary options at Azerai Can Tho include “Hidden Dinner by a Villa Pool,” “Secret Romantic Dinner by the River,” and “Picnic by the River.”
And at Azerai Ke Ga Bay, a different kind of culinary experience awaits: The “Monastery and Iconic Fruit of Binh Thuan” includes stops at an exotic dragon fruit farm, the culturally rich Ta Cu Mountain, and local salt fields. The culinary team at Azerai Ke Ga Bay is renowned for crafting an array of local delicacies with a focus on plentiful offerings from the sea.
Azerai Ke Ga Bay has also launched a special golf package with PGA NovaWorld Phan Thiet, whose two new championship-level golf courses were designed by legendary Australian golfer Greg Norman. “Tee Off Time” includes a two-night stay in a Deluxe Suite with a garden view at Azerai Ke Ga Bay, daily breakfast for two, and 18 holes of golf for two adults (including green fee, caddy fee, shared buggy and roundtrip transfers to and from the golf course).
Other experiences at Azerai Ke Ga Bay include a guided tour of the nearby historic, 1899-built colonial French lighthouse, a fishing trip in the sea, and an excursion to local sand dunes.
Vietnam has announced the end of all pandemic-related travel restrictions. Travelers are no longer required to submit proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 test prior to arrival. The latest conditions for entry into Vietnam should be confirmed with the nearest Vietnamese consulate and/or through a booking agent to ensure compatibility.
More information on applying for an e-visa can be found at https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/. Citizens of 13 countries qualify for visa exemptions and can visit for up to 15 days regardless of passport type and entry purpose.
For the full experiences menu at Azerai, please visit www.azerai.com/experiences.
